As I read the article, I tried to imagine such a scenario. I guess most of the time "it all works out", and the hope is that it will this time, too. OTOH, only 54% of residents are hitting the 87 liters/day target, according to the article. First off, I'm surprised that the taps don't just go dry after 87 liters; perhaps the tech isn't there. Regardless, if barely half are hitting the target, I guess plenty just aren't taking it seriously, as you point out. Wishful thinking, denial, or unwarranted optimism, I don't know.

I hesitate to raise a hot-button topic, but I wonder how many parallels there are to climate change. Wishing, denying, or hoping? Again, I don't know the minds of others. But if someone can got to the local reservoir, look with their own eyes and see that, indeed, Cape Town is running out of water, and then almost half the residents still don't cut back to the suggested level, I don't hold much hope for more global issues.

I suppose we’ll find a way to manage.

See, I'm torn. I hope you find a way to manage (rain, desalination, hopefully something comes online soon), but somehow the ones still watering their lawns have to go with parched throats and dirty clothes for a while to drive the point home.